Seasons of Love

“No other road, No other way, No day but today!”

–Jonathan Larson-Rent

Fall is a time of transformation. As the leaves turn golden and the nights grow longer, a sense of new beginnings fill the crisp air. The past year I have gone through my own transformation, navigating a big pitfall that has in turn given me the opportunity to discover one of my greatest passions. Come along with the whirling autumn leaves as I share how this experience has shaped my potential future blog.

Accepting AIP

Recently I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. This common condition upsets the normal balance of chemical reactions in your body and is usually treated with prescription medication. However, over the past year, I have experienced some difficulty in mitigating my side effects. After some time of prescribed medication and no relief, I was referred to a naturopath. She took a variety of tests including a food allergy panel. My results showed that I am intolerant to all foods except meat, some vegetables and fruit. Essentially, the food I was eating (mainly gluten and dairy) was affecting all the systems in my body, explaining many of the issues I was experiencing.

Click Here for a link outlining the specific Food Allergy Assessment that my naturopath recommended.

As you can imagine, being of Italian heritage where the staples are pasta and cheese, my initial reaction was not pretty. Since I was a baby, I have always been a foodie. I was never a picky eater and have always enjoyed trying new foods.

 

 

So naturally, after adopting my gluten, dairy, nut free diet also known as the Autoimmune Paleo Diet (AIP), I was in shock for about a week. I found myself focusing on everything I couldn’t have especially during my first trip to the grocery store. Even my first restaurant experience made me want to cry. It has definitely not been easy, but since then, I have really adapted well to my new eating habits.

Cooking Up Content

Therefore, I would love to start a blog about my food journey. The purpose of the blog would be to provide wellness strategies and autoimmune paleo recipes that I have tried. In addition, it would serve as a day to day reflection of the effects of the diet itself.

My blog would not only guide others who are experiencing the same diet, but also serve as inspiration to those who are seeking a new healthy lifestyle challenge.

Throughout my blog I would like to share my new love for cooking. It is my hope to take readers through the process of researching new recipes, grocery shopping and making their own meals.  By sharing my personal experience and being vulnerable in disclosing the ups and downs of a major life change, hopefully, I can entice the audience to embrace their individual obstacles.

 

 

My blog would be helpful in creating a community of like-minded individuals who can collaborate in creating new recipe ideas. In addition, it would benefit readers who are seeking advice and a safe space to work through their lifestyle adjustment.

They Didn’t Come for the Meat

Many vegan or vegetarian individuals supplement protein they would otherwise receive from meat with nuts and legumes. However, the Autoimmune Paleo diet restricts these protein rich supplements. In order to get the nutrients I need, I eat meat with every meal accompanied by vegetables and fruit. Therefore, this blog would probably be objected by those that choose to abstain from eating meat. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and ways of life. I would manage these objections by being clear about my intentions. I will not be promoting this diet as the be all and end all. Contrastingly, this diet is what works for me due to my condition and advice I have received from medical professionals. Keeping this in mind, it will be important that I remain conscious of the sensitivity of this topic. Everyone deals with major life changes in their own way and not all solutions work the same for everyone. I will strive to use only inclusive language, promoting the fact that everyone is on their individual journey through this process.

 

 

The Last Leaf

As the initial quote stated, there is no day but today. Life provides interesting challenges to each of us. It is so easy to get caught up in the negative aspects of an obstacle. However, by reflecting on life’s hardships, we can learn so much and come out as better people. Although my new diet has been a challenging adjustment, I have gained a new passion for cooking and overall feel healthier and happier. There is no day but today to accept these challenges and live life to the fullest.

Ultimately, the seasons are a continuous cycle of self-discovery. As the summer draws its final breath, the leaves take flight preparing for the frigid winter. It is important to enjoy these moments in time while giving yourself time to grow.

Through all kinds of weather be mindful, be present, be you, because this is me.

Photo Credits

1. https://pixabay.com/en/road-forest-season-autumn-fall-1072823/
2. My Own
3. My Own
4. https://pixabay.com/en/book-cook-eat-food-kitchen-recipe-1292854/
5. https://pixabay.com/en/shopping-food-purchasing-music-1165618/
6. https://pixabay.com/en/bell-pepper-capsicum-red-569070/
7. https://pixabay.com/en/legumes-nuts-health-hazelnuts-lens-3024033/
8. https://pixabay.com/en/hand-keep-puzzle-finger-match-523231/
9. https://pixabay.com/en/food-products-rustic-vegetables-1898194/